Highly-rated Manchester youngster Shaun Griffiths has won the second PDC Unicorn Youth Tour event in Barnsley.
He beat St.Helens Michael Smith 4-2 in the final…..Smith’s consolation though, was a brilliant 9-darter in his quarter-final victory over Michael van Gerwen!
But Griffiths was good value for his win….he lost only five legs in seven matches in the tournament and he is already being tipped for big things in the PDC over the next few years.
The 19-year-old pockets £600 for his victory.
The PDC Unicorn Under 21 World Arron Monk came close.
He reached the last four from a field of more than 120, after an excellent run, but was edged out a quality semi-final by Michael Smith…..4-3 the score!
In the deciding leg, Monk hit two 180s but blew his chance, by missing three darts for the match. He will be hugely disappointed.
Team Unicorn ace Joe Cullen suffered more disappointment, as he was defeated in the 1st Round – losing 3-2 to Kurtis Atkins.
He also lost in the 1st Round of the UK Open qualifier on Barnsley on Saturday – beaten by young Shaun Griffiths…..and it has been a tough start to 2011 for Cullen.
After running Terry Jenkins so close at the World Championship, Cullen has struggled to make an impression on the PDC Pro Tour and these defeats won’t do much for his confidence.
Everyone knows he has the ability and the game to beat the very best….remember, he beat Phil Taylor in a Pro Tour event only three months ago. It seems that Cullen is suffering from a loss of confidence at the moment, but surely he will come good soon.
Another Team Unicorn youngster Sean White was beaten in the 3rd Round of the Youth event. He lost 3-2 to Steve Haggerty.
The Unicorn Youth Tour is proving massively popular…..and the third tournament takes place in Wigan next month.
Results – Quarter-Finals:
Ryan Harrington 3-2 Richard North
Shaun Griffiths 3-2 Steve Haggerty
Michael Smith 3-0 Michael van Gerwen
Arron Monk 3-1 Ricky Evans
Semi-Finals:
Shaun Griffiths 4-0 Ryan Harrington
Michael Smith 4-3 Arron Monk
Final:
Shaun Griffiths 4-2 Michael Smith
By STUART PYKE (Twitter @stuartpykesport)
Photo courtesy PDC